The Sun. — London, England, 1818-05-28 00:00:00

PARLIA MENT. HOUSE OF LORD‘ , , WEDNEMIY, MAY 27. Or! 'he following Appeal CatISPS, tiltir Lord ships' Ju 4;1 - news were to this effect ;—" The Mink 01 Irel-ind v. Berestord and Others."—Af firmed. Launders v. Alaidtnont and Others."— Reversed. Mr. MAITLAND presented• Copies of the Grants or Instruments conferring Allowances, Gratuities or Pensions by t he Court of East India Directors, since the last statement, and pursuant to the Act of the 53(1 of his Majesty. Mr. COBB presenti.(l the Accounts of the Mar gate Harbour and Pier Company for the last ye r. .The Negociahie Securities—the Tobacco Ini portation—the I,4st India Marriage—National Debt Commissio-ers—Lottery—and Irish Part nerships Bills. were brought no trom the Com, inittees by Sir S. Hominy, Alderma n Wood, 111 r. .I.lffigden, and otheis, and read the first time. Th e Queen's Council Bill was read the third tinge- and passed. BANK RESTRICTION BILL. On the question for the third reading of the Think Itetricrion Bill, The it: , ,rl of LAUPFRDALS proposed the adop tion of several ciduseq, together with 'a new mo delling of the pre,ouhle, which, after a short dis cussion, were negatived by the House. Lord HOLLAND moved the introduction of a oviso, that the operation of the Bill should cease and determine when the price of gold should come nut to exceed 31. 1 7s. 6d. the ounce. This pro position watalso negatived, and the Bill was read the (hod rine and passed. ; Petitions were presented from the parish of St. Andrew's, Holborn, and the town of Bray, against the Poor Laws' Amendment Bill. POOR LAWS. The Earl of SHAFTBr.BURY brought up the Re. port of the Poor Laws' Amendment Bill. The Earl of CARNARVON proposed a clause, tire objdct of which was, to give Magistrates the power (.f acting for the pauper in ease no meet ing of the vestry took place within the time re quired.—Tire clause was negatived. Earl GROSVENOR objected to the clause which provided that the poor rates should he paid by the owners, not the holders, of houses or cottages, of a rent between five and twenty pounds. Lord REDE , DALE also objected to it, as having a tendency to transfer the ownership of cottages from the higher orders to others who would op press the poor. The clause, Ire admitted, tnivht be wanted in towns such as Birmiugham, hut let it be confined to the extent only to which it was wanted. His Lordship proposed an alteration in the wording, with a view to exclude cottages front its operation. Af:er some , nversation between the Lord Chancellor, itt e of Liverpool, the Earl of Latulerdale, Lord 4! nnd the Earl of Hardwicke, the House and Ow chute was agreed to by a majority or 2 to 6. The clause, however, tinder went some further discussion, and the result was, that the final de cision upon it was postponed till , o• morrow. The Report of the Parish Vestries' Bill was agreed to by the house. The Prize Motley Regulation Bill was brought up from the Commons, an'i read the first time. ALIEN BILL. _ Lord Viscount Sir/ MOUTH moved the second reading of the Alien Bill, observing, that he understood it winild better suit the convenience of Noble Lords to debate the principle of the &II uto the yin sT ion for going into the Committee. ,hotild, therefore,. postpone his statement of the arontids ,nd object of the Bill till Monday, When he proposed that the Bill should be corn mirud Lord IioLL‘ND did not wish to interfere with the understanding tor doslrning the discussion, it such an undcrstanding had taken place; but he wishcd it 10 he distiuctly understood, that he shoal !eel it his duty to give hi 3 decided opposi tion to tie Bill. Alter ► silort coi,versation the Bill was read a secQnd time, and committed or Monday. REWARDS ON CONVICTION. The Marqn;s of LANs,DowNE, on moving the se cowl reading of the Bill for taking away the Re wards given to Police Officers and others, on the conviction of offenders, observed, that as he un ders,ood opuositkin would be made to the meacure, he would abstain from the painful re eral Tt the calamitcius effects which had suggested an alteration of the law, and which were rapidly laying the foundation of a system subversive of the morals and justice of the country. The Bill was then read a second time. STATE OF THE PRISONS, &c. The Marquis of LatisnowNe gave notice that he would move an Address to the - Crown, on Wed nesday next, relative to the state of Gaols and 110,1ses of Correction throughout the Country, with reference to the accommodation they were capable of affording. The subject appeared to hint of considerable importance, when he 'elected on the great increase of crime which had taken place for some years past. PL ACES IN REVERSION. The Earl GROSTENOR gave notice, that he •would move for the Abolition of Giants in never- Sioll on this day se'nnight (Wednesday). EDUCATION OF THE POOR. The EA of ROSILYN, pursuant to his notice, rose to move the second reading of the Bill on this sobject. His Lordship prefaced his motion with a speech at some length, in which he detailed the olture, object, and leading provisions of the Bill ; particularly those for constituting the Commis .s;ooers of Inquiry, and the powers with which it teas deemed necessary to furnish those Commis 'filo:let's. These being so repeatedly in detail be fore ow readers in the course of the various dis cussions which took place on the subject in the other House of Parliament. we deem it urine sessary to recite them. He expatiated on the beneficial results which would arise from the adop tion of the measure, and adverted to . the good effects of the improved System of Education in the Wnerrern - part .of the Island. The Committee , cuuld diroid* the - iiiost suitable opportunity of I discussing in detail the various .provisions of the Bill. The Noble Earl concluded by moving its second readiug - . The LORD CHANCELLOR rose and took a gene ral view of the leadtAt.; provisions and effects of the Bill, and which, in its operation, as the mea sure then esented itself to the House, he was de 7 cidedly of opinion, would be far more detrimental to the interests at charity than- it could he benefi cial. His Lordship - ailver;ed to the various anti almost insuperable difficulties which we:e felt, when cases of the kind, ominently contemplated in the Bill, came before the Court of Chancery even %vitt► the best assistance that could obtained from the Master of the Rolls and the Vice Chancellor and where such questi.ms were generally ,to be considered as referable to the existing law of the coniitty, andtty, to the acknow ledged pttnciple that tilt Crown was charged with the dot); at attending to Charities so bestowed. It was also a principle to be observed, that the trustees should meet with every lair and due pro tection ; for unless those persons were so pro tected from vexatious suits and applications, it would he impracticable to find an honourable trn-- t e e to act. Alter torciUly observing upon those points, his Lordship expressed his wish, that in so saying, be may not he understood as not admit ting that the objects of the Bill should not be forwarded, or that he may he understood as say in there were not still (whatever the extent comparatively speaking may be) great ah'tsr ex isting. Th e y should consider the generl prin ciples of law and jw,tice, as applying to the ge neral interests of these important institutions•; and above all, how far they could, consistently with these great principles, ;;lye their ton Sent to the Bin as it now stands. And as an individual. it was his conviction their Lordships could not consistently concur in the measure, unless it re ceived some great and important alterations. He would not object to their Lordships' going into a Committee on the Bill. Lord HOLLAND denied that it was an object of the Bill to correct any abuses iu chatities. It was merely to ascertain, by iovestipcion, ihe na ture and extent of such abuses as were in exist ence ; their removal would necessarily be the ^e• stilt of another proceeding. lint where was the injustice ut the incestiga:iot► ? For his oven prt. he knew not whether abuses existed or nut ; but certain he was that tl►e nation should not remain ignorant on so impOrtant a matter. The educa tion of the poor was a subject well worthy of the attention of Parliament, and the present state of that education it was at least useful to inquire into. The Noble and Learned Lord seemed an xious to fi fault ;.vith the Bill. In truth, he was generally more remarkable fur picking holes it) the Bills of others than its bringing in perfect Bills himself. This might be consideted strange, remembering the acumen which the Noble and Learned Lord possessed. Bit to bring in a goon' Bill, and to find faults in Bills brought in by others, required different talents. He (Lord H ) recollected, that an Hon Friend of his was very much distinguished during the American war in the oprsi!ion, but that spun joining the Admi nistr,iti Olt helust much of his reputation for,ta lent. It was asked, was not this unaccountable ? The answer was, not at all, for a man Who had -been distinguished for breaking windows, is all at once made a glazier ! what could 6e expected? —(A laugh.)—The Noble Lord conchtded with tecommending the Bill, as one of the greatest impot ranee and utility, to their Lordship's appro bation. Lord REDESDALE opposed the Bill upon the grounds already stated by the Lord Chancellor, and thought that however necessary it nmi•ght op= pear to some that the House should legislate on the sncijeet, the present Bill was incapable of receiving such improvement in the Committee as would remove the objections to which it was Lord 3 HOLLAND and REDESDALE!WaIIy ex The EArl of CARNARVON spoke in favour of the Bill. The House then divided on the question for go ing into the Committee— For the Committee Against it - Majority — The House having resolved itself into a Corn rnittee.on the Bill, a clan'se was atleptecl,• on the proposition of Lurd Liverpool, confining tl►e in quiry of the Commissioners to Charities establish ed for the purpose of Education. Several verbal atnendments were also agreed to, after which the House resumed, and tl►e Report was ordered to be received to-morrow.—Adjourned at half-past 11. HOUSE OF COMMONS. A Petition was presented from a Parish in Brecknockshire, against the Puor Settlement Bill. — The Navy Prize Bill was read a third time and passed ; also the East India Marriages Bill. The East India Shipping Bill and the Soldiers' Pensions Bill went through Committees, Lord G. BERESFORD, from the Prince Regent, informed the House that his Royal Highness had given directions re specting the Addresses of the 24th and 15th instant. A Petition was presented by Mr. CANNING from the Watchmakers of Liverpool, against the Watchmakers' Regu lation Bill. 'file Ituck Salt Duty Bill was read a second time, and went through a Committee. The Negotiable securities Bill was read a third time and passed. FINANCE. Mr. MAI3ERLEY wished to know whether he had rightly understood the answer of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a question put last • ni4ht by the Honourable Member fur Nottingham (Mr. J. Smith)' He had nnderstood the Chan cellor of the Exchequer to say, that in consequence of the great amount of Exchequer Bills already funded, there would be no more funding either this year or the next. The pre sent amount of Exchequer Bills in circulation was 44 mil lions—the sum which would be required fur the next year would probably be 14 millions, making in all 58 millions, which, if there was no funding next year, would be kept afloat in the country. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he had declared that there would be no additional sum funded this year. He had gone farther, and had said, that he saw a possibility that in the next year it might not be necessary to have recourse to funding; but he had not been so rash as to say positively what Would be done in that year. MINES ASSESSMENT BILL. • Mr. moßarrr, in consequence of the opposition which had been made to the Mines Assessment Bill, and the latu. period of the Session, Thought fit to withdraw it for the pre sent.--. The Bill was ordered to be Committed this day three months. BRITISH MUSEUM. General THORNTON, after stating how very desirable it was ilia the facilities of admission to the Literary of : the' British Museum should be increased, muted fur Cupiics of the Regulations respecting Admission to the Reading Room of the British Museum, and of Students to the Gallery. Mr. BANKES agreed that it was desirable every facility should be given to the public, consistently with the secority of the hooks ; but it was to be remembered, that any arrange rhent for throwing it more open to the public must be at tended with additional expense in officers and buildings. Mr. GURNEY called the attention of the House to the great danger of. the books and manuscripts of the Museum from fire, and the e necessity of - putting that great national re pository in a state of safety against such an accident. Mr. WYNNE also observed, t bat from the construction of the Museum, the roof being supported by a large wooden cornice, which rendered it- improbable, if the building once tout fire, that ally great part of the books and manuscripts could be saved, the subject was well worth attention. The motion. was agreed to. BANKRUPT LAWS. Mr. J. Smith rose to move for leave to bring in a Bill to alter and mend the Bankrupt Laws. A Petition was last Session presented from a nume rous body of the Mercantile Interest, complain ing of a great number of grievances which they have suffered from the present. Bankrupt Laws. The ,allegations in those Petitions (for others were also presented) were sufficiently proved be fore the Committee. Mr. Basil Montagu, Mr. Cullen.. and Mr. Cooke, Commissioners of Bank rntits, had all proved that there wet e persons who, for a sum of money, would swear to false debts under the Commission of any Bankrupt who would employ them. He cnumerated the differ ent trades and professions not liable to tine Boik nipt Laws ; and stated, that the opteiou ot the Commitree was, that a Bill should be brought in to extend the Bankrupt Law* to atl persens to trade or business. With tespee to acts of Bank ruptcy, the only mode a as, at present, V"- a lean to deny his b, ing at eome to a creditor, e hen he knows he is one. These acts were frequently concerted, Hod therefor,. the Committee has thought it would he advisable, toat when a man feels liitiffelf insolvent, tie sPould have the power of inking hi oself a Bankrupt, by lodging a de claration to that eff•et with the Secretary ot Bank rupts ; or by a general stoppage of his business for seven days. The Committee also considered, that a man staving abroad for the purpose of avoiding his creditors should be declared a Batik nip! ; or if he sit mid remain in prison 14 days Ott civil procesi. The Committee also thoeght, that more care should be taken of Bank nip's' propet ty, instead of putting in a needy man for 3s. a-day to take care of it. The prole.sitiou, therefore, was to put the Messelq.teis of the Commissioners of Bankrupts into possession of the Bankrupt's Imo perry. e giant evil of all was, the facility of proving debts under a -commission. He com plained that Guildhall was not a fit place, from the confusion which prevailed in it, to transact .the Bankrupt business in. The Committee there fore proposed, that ,some proper building should be erected forthwith, for the accommodation of the Commissioners of Bankrupts ; and also that an :vomit in writing, of every debt intended to be proved, should be given in four days before the Bankrupt's examination. The system of Bankruptcy in Scotland was altogetheit free from the objections, and the manifest evils which prevailed in this country. In Scotland there was a provisional Assiguee who collect, d the debts of the Bankrupt, gave a regular account of them, and gave security for the careful dis charge of his duty The Committee recommended that such an Officer should be appointed by the creditors. subject to the approbation of the Com missioners. This Bill wou l d also require the Bankrupt to attend all the meetings of his credi., tors, and give every assistance in his power, under pain of losing the protection of the Commissioners. The Commissioners were also to beempowered to make enquiry into the mode in which the bank rupt shall have contracted his debts, before he should receive his certificate. The canital pu nishe.ent for a bankrupt concealing his pro• perty operated in a great measure to prevent prosecution, for that offence. In the case o f a bankrupt acting honestly and fairly, a liberal allow ance stronld be made to him out of his estate The Committee recommended, therefore, that 5 per cent. or not less than 2 per cent. should be al lowed to the Bankrupt out of the property which he should assist in recovering. The Committee had also expressed a wish that the Commissioners themselves should be regulated, especially those in the country, which were in many cases com plete ,jobs, a n d by which v e ry often there were no dividends made. Tate reason why he brought forward this Bill at so hate a period of time Session was, t het the question was surrounded by so many legal subtleties, which had consumed so much time that it tvas impossible to bring it forward sooner. He then moved for leave to bring in his Bill. Sir J. NEWPORT said the Committee conceived, and with reason, that the present Bankrupt Laws were worse than no laws at all, as they afforded protection only to the fraudulent, and enabled the fraudulent to cheat every honest man in the country. Some alteratiotrhe held to be absolti , elynecessary. Mr. WROTTESLEY complained of the want of accommo dation for the Commissioners and the Public in Guildhall ; and recommended it to the Members of the City to provide additional accommodation somewhere about Furnivars Inn. Mr. Veto, who built the Custom-house, had obtained a lease of Ftirnival's Inn, and was willing to build a ball and record rooms, taking the money by instalments. Mr. LOCKII.UIT supported the motion, as one of great. promise Mr. FINLAY considered this as one of the most important systems of Law that ever was proposed for the adoption of the House, and would be of the greatest benefit to the country. Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. A Message fro►u the Lords brought up the Queen's Council. Bill. Lord CASTLEREAGH moved the first reading of the Bill, and proposed that the second reading should he fixed for Monday next. The Bill WAS then read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday. LAND TAX. Mr. BROUGHAM read a letter from J. Thomson, of Kendal, to the effect that the Collectors of the Land-Tax in that district should not proceed to levy the Land-Tax Assessments until further no tice. This, he had no hesitation in saying, amounted to a wilful disfranchisement of those electors, who could not be put upon the hooks in consequence of there beiqg no assessment. It was clear that this operated against Lona fide vo ters, and was one of the grossest attempts to de prive elector's of •their franchise. It was much worse when it was considered that it came from a person who held a place in the collection of the Land-Tax, whicl► the Constitution prevented from interfering in elections : a person of that kind was punished with lots of office, if he even asked an elector for his vote. How much worse was this t It was kis duty to 1110191 that John Thom cIT" son, Clerk to the Commissioners of the Lan : so f in Kendal, he required to return a copy (3 ' - of letter he may have written to the As3ess or6 that district in the last three months; the names of the Commissioners on whose 0( bßr rity he issued the same. He had no oPin i°11 : 0 0 any one in that House wished to screen to conduct. Mr. LUSHINGTON did not risc to make any oPP° siti ti l lo' this motion. Mr. - Thomson had applied in April to the sco/ missioners to know how tu tax soine 40s. cottages, and joiil told not to go ou until some dispute, as to the title hy: the persons held those cottages, should be enquircd Mr. BROUGHAM said, the enquiry into the tWe 'Westmoreland cottages went on ver y s l o wly. He c° 1 4 ' conceive any thing inure disgusting than Officers of tlO venue interfering in the right of voting. t ut /31 LUSHINGTON said, the i n s t r uction came fr°` o f th e Commissioners of Tax e s h ere . Mr. BROUGHAM said, th a t M r . L own des. or le n o r) Commissioners in Westmoreland, should not have ^r t o fas answer as to votes, When he was asked about the 110' sessii.g the land-tax. A bars I\ , lr. C. WYNNE was'of opinion the letter won t .- "1 1, 1 the Ohm:1. of producing any regulations in the gellera.icioof, of Assessment, whatever might be done in partial di' t yll Sir J. GRAHAM had great doubts if any let ter : a i cHt ot existed from J. Thompson, at least the whole of lt " 1 iona l been-stated. It was certainly the duty of the Coall u ':, 0 1(1. of Taxes to give information, and he was sure the) rogu e Mr. 111.0t:GILINI said, it was clear th , it a pers u ;dto• Thomson did really exist.--The motiou wa, then ag re - OFFICERS' WIDOWS AND PEN.qON S jf• Mr LiTTnL•roN, alluding to the case -1* f ro' pay ()Meets, was not disposed to press the it Aa vier e, of whici i h e h a d given ?twice ytste r " y die beint! nnt'erstood Mini,ters would "k vjlrri , . sti , iject o con3ideratioth. wis" , e'. t ° t i e d es tie: het the XVidow art ()lacer, W 1 0 ", while on half-pay, was crititied to u pellS loll. o mlcts:owl not this, if • rue, was a 10 " •0 1 reipect to General Officers receiving (ached pay, he was informed that there ( P t mitit ion of numbers receiving vensions, BT'( (le Officers' vvid mvs who tnarried V"r- • pt iverl of their atifi.vance. e t° Lord PALNIEMTON said, it was i n co nten1 13 ;1 1 1 take the cas e o f widowis, under th e circumstances the Hon. Gentleman, into consideration. With trrPi General Officers, sonic regulations also were ab out t bd adopted. of Mr. LYTTELTON was satisfied will] the assurances Noble Lord. CAPE BRETON. , of )0 1 ` ,f '''Tr. BENNET stated, that "the Goverfini r ;e Cape Breton had t a k en upon itself fix le v y burthens contrary to th e genera l pr i nciPk6:ll be which the Governme n t o f. t h at p l ace 0° 1 '; ve conducted, The Eon. Geoilemun node ;wil l tie t y 01" Obliet vations on the subject of . c iphl; disputes which had arisen wi:h two of the te • o bitants. He moved f ur con i es o f the Pil,''„l,o:l9 Council respecting th e tax on spirituous"Rperf levied in Cape Breton, and various ()tiler 14 ' connected with these transactions, &c. Mr. GOULBURN sa id, i n respect to the Ta% 111 1. 10 l !4 one shilling a gallon h a d b een levied only. Instru , "' j olfr been sent out that Cap e B re t on s h ou ld h e governed d' to the usual mode.—The Motion was agreed to. COMMISSIONERS OF ENQUIRY. i ipP/ Sir J NEWPORT made a variety o f obser t l li e on eel fain neglects which he imputed to ti" :0 411 niiiisioners - of Emoiry into the ahnses of , . . Courts of Law. In one instance, these - cf!'' men (two of them b e i ng Mastets in C hil„ ' plc' had overlooked an Act of Parl i ,iment %dil e° ' chided certain Of f icers from taking more th' fee, who now exact U. He compldin e l , ° : t fefY great expence of the C o mmi ss i on , and ,1 0 0 great tune it h a d been formed, • withoannetiO any good. He read the Report of. the Committee, complaining of the deiays '" l “%g - s et t ; lity t he Commission alluded t o . The ( I '7 - , to ...whom he had j u st r e f erre d, as exile :jog I`., tpa indeed in sonic case s 1/. i s. , were Clerk sl office of Masters in Chancery. The exP e '' c ' or te Are English Commi ss i on was 21 , 000/ , ti; e duce of their labours only one It pol l ',Of° Right lion. Baronet moved a Resoltift(►", " " went to recommend expednjOil to the (;`), sinners in their enquiry, as groun d e d on port of the Ftnance Committee, and )leV i !7.oo l ' House to agree to th at R e p ort, and to e : e g otte (Herniation contained th e r ein ; slat i n g the .1 patibility of persons h a vi ng other dillie s (—„ l4 tb" form,• such as iNtisters i n Ch ancer y ) huk llll- office of Uominissioners of Enquiry'. ' t be4 e : i Mr. BATHURST could not see that Officers o f t sit r scription of Masters in Chancery were incompeW t Commissioners. On the contrary, they were, tE o3 ', h er yin - meats, as competent, if not more so, than c`" ii - t cti"ae dearer!. At all events, lie thought the Hoose vt . "l - c t. upon to interfere in giving any - opinion on the Our JO generally defended the cuuduct of the Commissio% g e l stated that they had been engaged in enquiry W than other of the Commissioners either in I relall", ; ,• ) 1 land. lie adverted t o th e d ays w hi c h eac h Coroil,l;e 70 taken, which, in point of number, was exceeded illaeriu lish Commission; and concluded with moving th e question. - -irteitte Mr. COURTENAY d e ni e d th a t any o f t h e fee'afire- • t by the Right Hon. B aro n e t were unjustly exacted' orbt; Mr. WEBBER defended the Irish Commission f r°° o l th e he termed an unjust compa r i son , ma d e by the 1 110e1. , &O l e § previous question ; an d s t a t e d, th at t h e y h a d n ot ou - ') ic days, but even nights, to a strict investigation al • in the Courts of Law. ct The SOLICITOR-GENERAL panegyrized the the English Commissioners ; and the ATTORN kA RAL followed on the same s id e . No ~000 ' After some further observati ons f rom Sir C. Sir John Newport replied. The previous question • - carr;ed.—Adjourned at Ten o'clock. • 0 00 0, Old PIIMBE Hassnr.„ well knowtrat o is who served many years in the Armv, and now in the 103 d year of her age, is dilg, - :5 116 ill, but refuses tuedical aid, declaring, "iivsiet never but once in her life took a dose of P i ' ld and that bad like to have killed her. T his : ill veteran is a pen , ioner of the PRINCE R EG-la. of the On Sunday morning last, whilst Pat - d: son' 12th Regiment of Foot, quarte re d in AlO °ll `, e dal non, county of Galway, were out on reV ellt— to tt in the county of Clare, a soldier belongi ij r,„ th e shot himself, by attaching a handkerchief `t-,clig trigger, and tying it to his leg. An InVesSsV held on the body by TH OMA S SAMPSOI4' d. Coroner—a verdict of Insanity was refilre r, On Wednesday, the 20th at Ramsgate, e ghe el cre Charles, the third son of Rowland Alston, L'scl• m hsontAt G . %V"' ortnagally, near Dungannon, Ireland , j • industrious farmer, at the :•dva nce d age of 123 3• lived a regular and sober life. DIE!). LONDON: Printcd by J. B. CARSTAIRS, of N o. 1! ) , / W I Ormond-street, Queen-square ; and published 4, 0 0 J eff SCRIPPS, of, No. 7, South Molton-street, at °Office, No. Ili, Strand ; whe re Adveitise m entr, a Letters, akc. (poet-paid} must be addressed. ~ ~T, =',, Nee,, Rp itt th e t.c. 1 1 , • le h e w,„ l, I 11l ( A ` ~ ° T ii•~~ kor~